Steering device.



C. E. BROOKS. STEERING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5,1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Int/anion fl a.

m'fnesses:

G. B. BROOKS. STEERING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 5.1908.

Patented Apr. 13, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

OWM

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

enaR Es BROOKS, on ST; Louis, MISSOURI, ASSTGNORTQ B. ROTH TOOL coMPAN-Y,

' s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI. ,A .conronarron OF nrssouru.

STEERING DEVICE.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented April 13, 1909.

' Application mmnctot r 5, 190s. Serial in). 456,156.

320 all whemit may concern:

the it known that 1, CHARLES E. BROOKS, a cltlzen of the Uni-tedStateaand a resident of the cityof St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvem'ent 111 Steering Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steering devices and it is more particularly adapted for use upon motor-driven vehicles-and the like.

It has forits principal objects to secure a stead position of the steering axle and whee of the vehicle and a tight working connection between the same and the steermgp'est, tosecure a positive and-easy control; the, steering mechanism, to provide for readily adjustmg the working parts of the steering head and for taking up all looseness due to wear, and. to attain certain other advantageshereinafter.more fully ap caring.

The invention consists principa ly in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the steering head as will be hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings, forming part .of this specification, and wherein like symbolsrefer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower portion ofthe steering post and casing for the lever-actuating mechanism; Fig. 2 is a side elevation with theintermediate portion of the steering post broken away and showing the usual normal positionof the parts when the device is mounted upon 85 amotor-driven vehicle Fig; 3 is an enlarged view partly in vertical longitudinal sectlon and partly inside elevation with one half of the casing removed to show the steering lever actuating mechanism; Fig. 4 is a view partly in horizontal longitudinal section and partlyin top plan; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the intermediate rotatable element of-the' actuatmechanism with a portion: of one of its si e plates broken away; -Fig.'6 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the actuating nuts detached; Fig. 7' is a viewpartly n vertical longitudinal section'and partly in side elevation with one half of the casing removed and showing a modification of the device; and, Fig. 8 is a detail of one of the intermediate distance pieces. t The device comprises, referably, a rotatable tubular steering r0 or 0st 1 through which the rods for the control ing devices for the motor'are usually placed. 'Ontheiupper end of the steering post is mounted an ordinary hand wheel 2. The lower end of the steering post is swiveled or journaled in a casing 3. Preferably, this casing is made in two sections. and divided longitudinally vertically. together iii any desirable manner but preferably by through-bolts or screws 4 ateach corner thereof. By this arrangement, the casing may be readilytaken apart when it is desired to gain access to the parts of the mechanismcontained therein. It also facilitates the assembling of the parts.

The lowerflend portion of the steering post is provided with right andleft handscrewthreads5 and 6, respectively, and upwardly a short distance from the left hand threaded ortion 6, is a collar or annular shoulder 7.

he outer or upperface Softhis collar is adapted to bear against the inner face of a cap or thrust member 9 which has a screw: threaded engagementwith a circular boss 10 at the end of thecasing 3. The cap 9 has a split portion .11 and outwardly projecting lugs or cars 12 on each side thereof. These The two sections may be secured cars are perforated and'one is threaded for I the engagement of a clamping screw 13.. By this arrangement, the cap may be securely held in its adjusted positlon.

Mounted on the threaded portion ofthe steering post are two oppositely disposed semicylindrical half-nuts or companion blocks 14, 15. The upper half-nut or block 14 is provided with counterpart threads 16 adapted to fit the left hand threads 6 on the steering post, and the lower half-nut or block 1 15 is provided with counterpart threads 17 adapted to fit the right hand threads 5. The

respective half-nuts14 and-15 are threaded tively. The. lower faces of the lugs 20, 21 or the faces away from the handle end of the steeringpost are preferably fiat and arranged at right angles to the axisof the post. The lugs or abutments 20 21 are adapted to bear against diametrically opposite cross members'22, 23, respectively, of a rotatable element or equalizing abutment comprising two c rcular dlSkS/ or plates 24, 25, which are 5 rigidly connected with the above mentioned cross-members 22, 23. Preferably, the cross members are formed inte ral with one of the circular side members an have reduced end portions which are fitted tightly inholes or gether by pins 26, as shown in Figs; 4 and!) of-the drawings. This construction permits of placingan antifriction sleeve, or roller 27 on each of the cross members before the parts. are secured together.

Extending outwardly from the centers of each of the circular side plates or disks 24, 2 5, are trunnions or stub shafts '28, 29, which are journaled in bushings or bearings 30 se cured in side extensions or bosses 31 on the casing sections 3. These stub shafts or trunnions may be made of suflicient lengths so as" to be supported or journaled at any desirable position on the vehicle' frame. By ivotally mounting the trunnions on suitable rackets or supports 32 the angular'position of the steering post 1 may be changed at will, it being on T necessary to provide an adjustable brace or bracket on the body frame for rigidly holding the steering post in set position. In the drawings, the steering post is shown as projecting through aslot in the vehicle body and rotatably mounted in a member 33 which is adjustably secured on a sector sha ed bracket 34 s red to the dash board an bottom of the vehicle. As shown, theadjustments are effected by providing the member 33 with ears 35 which are perforated to receive securing pins or bolts 36 which also engage the holes 37 in said bracket member 34. Obviously,-however, other suitable devices may be employed. for the purpose.

The steering'fingeror lever 38 may be se-- table abutment or element, By adjusting the cap or thrust bearing member 9 inwardly- 0- againstthe collar-'7, the forward or driving faces of the threads on the steerin post may be brought tightly against the driving faces of the counter art threads on the respective half-nutsor b ocks' 14- 15. .The rotatable 5 abutment member or eiement constitutes-an seats provided therefor in the op osite side; memben- The parts may be. rigid y held tointermediate equalizing resistance. For example, should. the. threads 5 on the. 0st or the counterpartthreads 17 on the hal -nut 15 wear. faster than the opposite threads, or looseness or play otherwlse Occur therebetween, the half-nut 14 will tend to rotate said equalizing element by moving against the upper cross member 22 when the end thrust bearing 9 is moved inwardly. The lower cross member 23 will move-'in the opposite 5 direction against thenut 15 and thereby the looseness or play between the threads is taken up, as well as anyplay which might occur in the trunnion bearings Preferably, the driving andresistance faces of thescrew threads are sogenerated that at ever oint in such faces a line e endicular P to the axis of the screw will coincide with such faces. The back faces of the screw threads are preferably beveled. It is also referable-to providetwo separate threads ocated at different longitudinal positions so that each will be continuous and will not interfere with the other threads and so as to get van accelerated movement of the driven parts and yet retain a great and continuous thread engagement between the halfnuts and screws. By this arrangement, the threads wearuniformlythroughout and all play'o-r looseness caused by wear may be taken up until the threads are'worn almostentirely away. So, too, the peculiar shape of the screw-threads permits'of placing t e half-nuts sidewise or laterall .upon the screw, and likewisepermi-ts t eir removal' oo therefrom. L To prevent the lateral deflection of the half-nuts, they are mounted in guideways or seats at" each end of the casing. Preferably, one seat is providedby'boring the casing concentricallyof the axis of the steering post as at 40, and the opposite seat is provided by fitting a cylindrical bushing 41 in a similar bore at the opposite end of the casing. The outer end of this bushing isprovided with a reducedopening :42 in alinement-with the axial bore of the steering post, and it is also provided with a seat 43 for the lower end of said post. .The bushing 41 extends into the casing a sufficient distance to afford an ample 5 bearinglfonthe lower ends of half-nuts.

By t e construction herein shown and described, the parts may be tightly adi'gl sted and yet an easy movement of the wor 11 parts is attained, and the-working parts al wear 12o uniform] throughout, thereby overcoming the liabi-ity of wearing low places or shoulderswhich-would preventi'th'e smooth working' of the device.

' 11 Figs. '7 and- 8. of the drawings, Ihave illustrated a modification of my device. In this construction the antifriction sleeve 27 is dispensed with and distance pieces-or links 44 1iplaced between the. lugs 20, 21 onlthe ha -nuts and'the crossmembers 22, 231-011 the rotatable equalizing abutment. Prefer:

Obviously, the device admits of mod1fication without departing from my invention, and, therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact constructions and arrangements shown. v I

What I claim as my inventionv and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1'. A steering gear comprising a casing, a

steering post rotatably mounted therein, and

threads thereon and anend thrust bearing portion, grooved companion blocks on opposite sides of said post, one of said blocks havin a screw thread adapted to cooperate with sa1d right hand thread and the other block having a screw thread adapted to cooperate with said left hand thread, said blocks also having companion end bearing portions and opposltely disposed lateral projections inter- 3o mediate their ends, and a rotatable equalizing abutment member comprising two side plates having diametrically oppositecross-cOnnecting members-arranged in the path of the lateral projections on said companion blocks, and each of said side plates having outwardly extendingtrunnions, hearings in said casing for said trun-nions, and a longitudinally adjustable abutment on said casing for the end thrust bearing on said steering post.

2; A steering gear comprising a casing, a steering post rotatably mounted therein and having separate/right and left hand screw threads thereon and an end thrust bearing portion, oppositely disposed companion blocks having counterpart screw threads for the respective screw threads'on said post, said blocks also having oppositely disposed lateral projec'tions intermediate their ends andalso having com anion cylindrical end bearingortionspthe' caring for one end of said'bloc s comprising a bore in the end wall of said casing andjthe bearing for the opposite ends of said blocks com rising a bushing in the opposite end wall 0 said casing and extending inwardly therefrom, said bushing having a bore to receive the ends of said' blocks and also having a seat for the end of said steeringpost, a rotatable equalizing abutment j ournaled in said casing intermedico ateof the ends of said blocks, said abutment comprising two side plates having diametrically disposed cross-connecting members arrangedlto bear against the respective lateral projections on said blocks, and each of said side plates having anoutwardly extendconnected thereto, a steering post rotatably I having continuous right and left hand screw.v

ing tr nn on, and "a lengi udi ally t i ah abutment on said casing forthe end thrust bearing on said steering post. v

A steering gear'comprising a'rotatable abutment having a steering lever operatively E mounted transversely of said rotatable abutment said steering post having'ri ht'and left hand screw threads thereonat different longitudinal positions 'andalso having an end thrust bearing portion, a pair of oppositely disposed companion half-nuts having counterpart screw threads for the respective screw threads on said steering post, and also having oppositely disposed lateral projections thereon. between said rotatable abutment and said steering post end'thr'ust bearing, a distance piece between each of said lateral projections and diametrically opposite oints on said rotatable abutment, and a 35 longitudinally adjustable abutment for said steering post end bearing portion.

4. A steerirn gear comprising a rotatable abutment having a central pivot and diametrically opposite bearing. ortions, a steering post rotatably mounted transversely of said rotatable element and having so arate, continuous right and left handscreW-t readsthereon at different longitudinal positions and also having an end thrust bearing portion, the driving and, resistin faces of said screw thread being substantial y perpendicu lar at every point with respect to the axis of said steering post, oppositely disposed coinpanion half-nuts having counterpart screw threads for said screw threads on said steering post and having oppositely disposed lateral projections adapted to bear against the respective diametrically disposed bearingortions on said rotatable abutment, and a 5 ongitudinally adjustable abutment forthe end thrust bearingportion of said steering ost, 1 p 5. A steering'gear comprising 'a casing, a steering post rotatably mounted therein and 119 having uninterrupted right and left hand screw threads and an end thrus't'bearing portion thereon, an adjustable abutment on said casing for said end thrust portion, an equalizing abutment rotatably mounted on said casing and having diametricall opposlte bearing. portions arranged norma ly at right angles to the ax's of said steering post, and companion hal -nuts having counterpart screw threads adapted to fit the respective 120 screw threads on said steering post and hav ing oppositely disposed lateral projections interposed between sald 'post end thrust abutment and said equalizing abutment and teering post end thrust bearing portion, an

equalizing abutment mounted in said casing and opposed to said first mentioned abut- I ent, and companion half-nuts having counserewthreads on said steerin% terpart screw threads adapted to fit the post and also having oppositely disposed tions intermediate of said abutments and arranged tobear against said equalizing abutment. Y

' Signed at St. Louis, Missouri, this 2nd. day of October, 1908. v

' CHARLES E. BROOKS. Witnesses:

' G. A. PENNINGTON,

J. B. MEGOWN.

ateral projec- 15 

